If you think of Adams’ legendary humorous sci-fi quintet as merely a series of smart gags in a speculative setting, you’re not giving Adams enough credit. Behind the jokes, the ridiculous names, and the elastic nature of Adams’ fictional universe is a good deal of serious philosophy and real science—and more than a little sly political commentary. Case in point: Zaphod Beeblebrox, cool dude, space adventurer, and president of the galaxy. His disastrous administration—which he seems more or less totally unqualified to head—is actually a total triumph, at least to those who are really in charge. As is revealed during the course of the books, the office of the presidency is a distraction designed to keep people from finding out how the real decisions are made (spoilers, it involves a slightly confused old man on an isolated planet). In other words, the entire galaxy is run by the Deep State, and the chief executive is only there to make sure no one ever notices.